Only after the ships and landing crafts departed from the south coast of England did the invading units learn where they
were headed: a 60-kilometre stretch of five beaches on the Normandy coast between Cherbourg and Le Havre.

American forces would land at Utah and Omaha beaches to the west while British troops would take Gold and Sword beaches
on the east. Juno Beach, where the Canadians landed, was sandwiched between Gold and Sword.

There were 7,016 Allied navy vessels involved in the operation, including two monitors, six battleships, 22
cruisers, 71 corvettes, 93 destroyers and thousands of landing craft.

In the air, 171 squadrons of fighters and fighter bombers flew about 14,000 sorties to protect the landing,
ward off the Luftwaffe (the German air force) and bomb enemy ground positions.

Almost 6,000 Allied vehicles, including 900 tanks and armoured vehicles, were ashore within three days
of the invasion.

Key to the success of the operation were two artificial harbours, code-named "Mulberry," constructed in England
and towed to the invasion zone. They made it possible for large ships to bring in heavy supplies before the Allies could seize
a port city from the enemy.